ook possession of me, and
I looked impulsively into his face. Was it possible that for once
Enriquez' ironical extravagance had been understood, met, and vanquished
by a master hand? But the Rev. Mr. Mannersley's self-satisfied face
betrayed no ambiguity or lurking humor. He was evidently in earnest; he
had complacently accepted for himself the abandoned Enriquez' serenade
to his niece. I felt a hysterical desire to laugh, but it was checked by
my companion's next words.

"I informed my niece of the occurrence in the morning at breakfast. She
had not heard anything of the strange performance, but she agreed with
me as to its undoubted origin in a grateful recognition of my liberal
efforts toward his coreligionists. It was she, in fact, who suggested
that your knowledge of these people might corroborate my impressions."

I was dumfounded. Had Miss Mannersley, who must have recognized
Enriquez' hand in this, concealed the fact in a desire to shield him?
But this was so inconsistent with her utter indifference to him, except
as a grotesque study, that she would have been more likely to tell
her uncle all about his previous performance. Nor could it be that she
wished to conceal her visit to the fandango. She was far too independent
for that, and it was even possible that the reverend gentleman, in his
desire to know more of Enriquez' compatriots, would not have objected.
In my confusion I meekly added my conviction to hers, congratulated him
upon his evident success, and slipped away. But I was burning with
a desire to see Enriquez and know all. He was imaginative but not
untruthful. Unfortunately, I learned that he was just then following one
of his erratic impulses, and had gone to a rodeo at his cousin's, in
the foothills, where he was alternately exercising his horsemanship in
catching and breaking wild cattle and delighting his relatives with his
incomparable grasp of the American language and customs, and of the airs
of a young man of fashion. Then my thoughts recurred to Miss Mannersley.
Had she really been oblivious that night to Enriquez' serenade? I
resolved to find out, if I could, without betraying Enriquez. Indeed, it
was possible, after all, that it might not have been he.

Chance favored me. The next evening I was at a party where
Miss Mannersley, by reason of her position and quality, was a
distinguished--I had almost written a popular--guest. But, as I
have formerly stated, although the youthful fair of